On the Art of the Interesting

• Online Conversation 
• Register to Access the Livestream and One Week of Ad-Free Replay Access 
• Books are available to add to your order at check-out for pick-up from Marcus Books in Oakland, California or delivery within the United States 

Emerging research in psychological and philosophical circles is showing us that there is more to the good life than past or current conversations suggest. Psychological richness is the missing piece to the good life, and, Lorraine Besser, a founding investigator in these studies, shows how we can add it to our lives by making them full of what she calls the Interesting—experiences that captivate and engage our minds, stimulate new thoughts and emotions, and that impact our perspectives. 

Join author and professor of philosophy Lorraine Besser and CIIS professor Counseling Psychology, Expressive Arts Concentration Shoshana Simons for an inspiring conversation exploring how we can make our lives more interesting without having to make dramatic changes. Lorraine shares ideas from her research and latest book, The Art of the Interesting. She discusses how everyone can obtain and strengthen the skills necessary to access The Interesting. The Interesting is within everyone’s reach, once we know how to go for it.  

Lorraine invites you to explore how to “keep it interesting” as we reach toward living our best possible lives.
 

Image

Lorraine Besser, PhD, is a professor of philosophy at Middlebury College, who specializes in the philosophy and psychology of the good life and teaches popular courses for undergraduates on happiness, well-being, and ethics. An internationally recognized scholar, she was a founding investigator on the research team studying psychological richness.  She is the author of two academic books (The Philosophy of Happiness: An Interdisciplinary Introduction and Eudaimonic Ethics: The Philosophy and Psychology of Living Well) and dozens of professional journal articles on moral psychology.  

Image

Shoshana Simons, PhD, RDT is Professor and former Program Chair of CIIS’ MA. in Counseling Psychology, Expressive Arts Concentration. She teaches Family & Couple Dynamics, Multicultural Counseling & Therapeutic Relationship, Narrative Expressive Arts Family Therapy. She is a voice actor and arts-based coach & consultant with Key of Life Academy. She is also adjunct faculty at the Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute, Seattle, WA, where she offers a Certificate in NarrARTive Expressive Arts Coaching. Shoshana has 35+ years of experience in community-building with peoples across dimensions of difference and similarity in many settings including with children and adults in the fields of play, education, antiracism, counseling psychology, organizational development, and community work.

Originally from London, UK, Shoshana originally came to the USA to complete a clinical traineeship at The Stone Center, Wellesley College, MA. She returned to the Stone Center in 1998 as Training Director for The Open Circle Program, training elementary school teachers & leaders to implement a ground-breaking SEL curriculum using peer-based and whole systems approaches.

Shoshana has worked as a therapist in the UK and USA and taught counseling psychology and intercultural relations at Goddard College, VT, University of Vermont, and Lesley University, MA. She was formerly core faculty in CIIS’ PhD in Transformative Studies & MA in Transformative Leadership programs.

Shoshana’s scholar-artist-practitioner interests include narrative and systemic expressive arts practices, indigenous healing traditions, expressive arts in coaching & leadership, expressive arts in medicine, participatory action inquiry, and arts-based research methods. 

We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner

Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere. Learn more about Marcus Books.

______________________________________________________

Accessibility

If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.

Important Event Information

Access to the livestream event is limited to registered guests. Registered ticket holders will receive the link to watch the livestream, will have access to chat and Q&A, and will have an ad-free watching experience.

Recording Policy

Ticket holders will have access to an ad-free replay of the event for one week after the live event. A replay with ads will be released on our YouTube channel one week after the livestream. Portions of the audio will also be released on our podcast. Only registered ticket holders who choose to watch live can participate in the chat and Q&A.

Refunding Policy

All tickets and donations for this event are nonrefundable.